I remember starting blogging and looking with absolute awe at those bloggers who had followers. Any followers. Those who had followers numbering into the impossible realms of four figures must, I thought, be famous people… writers, artists, social commentators. Or, at the very least, utter wizards with social media. There is an automatic assumption that numbers mean success… and while in some ways they may be a measure of a public perception of it, I soon came to realise that things are not always what they seem.
Especially the dog…
Many of the most popular posts, I noticed, were the simple ones or the ones that shared information. Or a bit of light-hearted fun. More serious posts can get a mixed reception as you would expect. Often the ones I am most dubious about posting seem to touch a nerve. One thing is certain, just when you think you have had one of those light-bulb moments of realisation, everything you think you have learned so far is turned upside down and your conclusions proved laughable.
I have been blogging officially for four years. In the first year I only posted a couple of times and got six whole views… I was astonished I’d had any! Year two, I posted a few more times for half the year and had five thousand views! You could have knocked me down with the proverbial feather. The next two years it was ten times that and I was gobsmacked. This year has been more than all the rest put together.
I’ve posted at least one post a day for the past eighteen months. Missed posting just nine days in the past two years, have written nearly three thousand posts viewed over two hundred thousand times and eliciting almost forty thousand comments and I have, with utter astonishment, reached that magical four figures myself. Best of all, I have met some fantastic people across the world, learned much, discovered some wonderful writers and made some good friends. I’ve even met some of them… not all friendships remain only in the virtual world.
You might think I’d got this blogging thing figured out.
Yet my most popular post by far was written… by the dog.
In fact, to make matters worse, three of my top five posts were written by the dog.
Which sort of knocks the stuffing out of any hint of burgeoning hubris.
During the past couple of years, I have written, co-written and produced a dozen or so books in diverse genres, from the spiritual exploration of an ancient and magical landscape to fiction, humour, poetry and mythology, via a few graphic novels, whilst learning the ropes and making all the mistakes of the newbie Indie publisher.
And, just in case there was any lingering lack of humility, the dog far outstrips me on book sales too.
Every time.
Nor do we need to mention who gets the fan mail around here…
So, I can categorically state that I know very little about what might count as success in the world’s terms. But I can say that there are a few things I have learned about blogging.
1. Write… or take pictures… share something. A blog is awfully empty unless you post something and as you can never really predict what people will enjoy, you can only really post what you feel is right for you.
2. Enjoy … not much point in blogging unless you do!
3. Be yourself … no-one else can be you or speak with your voice… Nor can anyone else shape your thoughts into words.
4. Connect… that’s the best bit.
5. Let the dog write…
Most importantly, never let the stats, yours or other people’s, define what you do or they will become a millstone around your neck instead of a milestone to enjoy. And every so often, when you hit one of those milestones, remember that it is the reader who gives life to the written word and the people that breathe joy into blogging. So, Ani and I would like to say
Sue Vincent's Daily Echo 
Yup, yup, yup, yup. My most popular posts are rarely the ones I think are the best nor are they the ones I worked hardest on. They are always the ones which for some reason resonate with a lot of people, often for reasons I don’t entirely grasp.
Really, what I’ve mostly learned is to do what feels good and let the views fall as they may. Because you are absolutely right. If you aren’t having fun, there’s no point in doing it at all. Good job, my friend.
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You can just never tell, can you, which ones will resonate? Apart from the dog… she seems to have a knack for it 😉
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Congratulations and keep blogging Ani and Sue. You were the first visitor to my blog and your energetic sharing and knowledge has encouraged me to keep at it. And then of course you went and introduced me into Ronovan’s challenges………….
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Ah well, you have a natural place over at Ronavan’s, Denis 🙂
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I meant to ask Ani, how did Sue manage to stuff that material in your mouth then get to to pose as if you had been a naughty dog?
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I have to be a good actress, Denis and Charlie… you know how it is. She likes to get the pictures so I do my best for her… 😉
Much love, Ani xxx
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Reblogged this on perfectlyfadeddelusions.
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Sue, you have an amazing blog. And very creative to include Ani as a writer. Animals in movies or writing are a big hit! Congratulations on all your blogging success over the years! I love your posts and admire your commitment to blogging! Chryssa
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Thanks, Chryssa… I don’t know about ‘letting’ Ani blog… she seems to be a natural at the keyboard 😉
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Congratulations Sue on your 4 year blogiversary! And Sonu Singh said congrats to Ani… We have the same issues here… Fur baby is far more popular than anything else I write!!!
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Thanks, Ritu! Ani says that’s because she and Sonu Singh are cuter than we are… I may have to have words with that dog 😉
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Have words if you can…but do they ever listen…? I get those cutie pie eyes turned up at me then I can’t say what I want, and I end up taking more pictures of him!!!
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Ani listens intently… then drops a tennis ball at my feet anyway… reminding me of what is truly important 😉
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See!!! They all have their own agenda!!!!
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Her excuse is that she’s keeping me fit 😉
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😊😊😊
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🙂 🙂 🙂 woof woof … have a lovely weekend! Please give Ani a pull of the tail from me …
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Ani sends her thanks Susan 😉
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I thought Ani wrote them all!!!!! Now I’m adrift in confusion 😉
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She won’t thank me for blowing her cover…
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LOL 🙂
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Our collie/labrador cross (not mine, the family’s) once won a rosette as ‘Best Other Breed of Small Dog’. She was the only entrant. That just goes to show that dogs know what to do.
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They are perfect opportunists…especially where the limelight is concerned 😉
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Oh congratulations !
I had a conversation on this topic with my fiancé the other day, how when I started blogging I felt a but insinuated by the all connected and read bloggers, and that I suppose that maybe now new bloggers see me the way that I saw others when I started.
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It’s a scary thought, isn’t it?
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I was starting to get paranoid that the cat was more popular than I. Now I see it may be the norm that the pets who are prepared to gossip about us may be more popular. It could also account for the fact that Joey has a small but determined following who tell me he should have the spotlight more often.
It’s just as well I have a second blog where no pets are allowed.
xxx Huge Hugs Sue. Believe me, your writing is much better than Ari’s xxx
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They look cute and give away all our guilty secrets… That’s the attraction perhaps 😉 xxxx
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Reblogged this on Anita Dawes & Jaye Marie.
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my absolute favourite blog, complete with the bloggerdog!
Don’t ever change, Sue…
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Bless you xxx
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Congratulations Ani! Oh … You too Sue! Just kidding Sue. That’s a brilliant achievement and I’m so happy you’ve shared this with us. A very informative post, one everyone should read.
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See what I mean? 😉 she does it every time 😀
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Congratulations on four years of blogging. I love the posts from you both – but admit to buying two of Ani’s books and only one of yours so…
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Told you… Every time 😉 thanks Mary! :F
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Don’t work with children or animals… they steal the show every time; congrats of four years and the incredible output.
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I may have got that one wrong 😉
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I’ll go with option 5. Way to go, Ani 🎾🎾🎾
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Are those tennis balls I see before me? 😉
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Indeed 😂😂
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🙂
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Four years…many congrats. I think your blog succeeds, Sue, because you engage other bloggers with your candor. And the dog…who doesn’t love their point of view…so easy to relate. Blog on….☺
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Ah well, Ani, a friend once said, is my mischief externalised 😉 x
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That’s perfect. ☺
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🙂
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Your success is well deserved, Sue, you’ve put in the sweat, blood and tears. However, Ani-mals capture our hearts more than anything else. Their faithful presence is read as enduring love. We can’t help but respond!
So will there be a tennis ball launcher under the tree this year? 😉
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I’m sincerely hoping so… not much point putting the tree up for her otherwise 😉
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😀
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Stan is getting all excited here! Well done to Ani ( and you, of course!)
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Ani says hi to Stan… ( I wander off disgruntled 😉 )
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Oh, he sends her lots of licks and nuzzles!
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🙂
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Still haven’t figured what a post will do – but I like the mystery. Thanks back at you and Ani for all the wonderful reading and enjoyment.
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Neither her have I, Noelle… though if they feature the small one. they usually seem to do okay 🙂
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I think when Ani speaks it brings a whole new level of ‘the human touch’ even though Ani is a dog. Everybody responds to cute and adorable. A lightheartedness is always a welcome escape for a few moments, just like an enticing book. And besides Sue, you are still the writer speaking for Ani, so no worries, Ani isn’t stealing your thunder. LOL 🙂
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She holds up a mirror for her two-legses… but as to that final statement…she is in shock, Debby 😉
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🙂 🙂
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This is lovely, Sue, and a reminder that I needed at the moment about why I blog 🙂 I didn’t expect any of the connections I’ve made either, plus I think I’ve improved as a writer simply by the act of posting regularly (good for confidence too). I might hit those four figures one day, or I might not – what matters is that I keep writing because it’s what I love to do – everything else is just icing on the cake 🙂 And yes, it’s often been those posts that I’ve dashed out quickly, or been unsure about, that have hit the biggest chords with readers. So blogging has also taught me to just write and put it out there, as you never know what might happen.
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